June 2015


1) JUNE IS THE MONTH TO....
  • Direct sow in the garden.  Enjoy the oldest and simplest garden practice of covering a seed with some soil with beans, beets, carrots, corn, lettuce, potatoes, melons, squash, and cucumber.  With the cool, wet start we have this month, give it a few more days for the soil to warm up and dry out.
  • Transplant indoor tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers out to the garden.  Be sure they have been hardened off before you send them off on their own for the season.
  • If your spinach and lettuce are looking big and bold, start harvesting them for salads and sandwiches.  It won't be long until the temperature and day length make them bolt.
  • Stay after those dandelions while they are still yellow!  Get them out before they set seed and reproduce throughout your lawn or garden. The same applies to all weeds - a seed rain from one plant can sometimes leave hundreds of thousands of seeds to haunt you in the future.
  • As the temperatures rise and we're working more in the garden, remember to stretch before strenuous work, wear sunscreen and protective clothing, and keep yourself hydrated.  More safety tips here.
  • Watch out for ticks and check yourself over carefully after you finish working in the garden.  More information here.
  • Start adding Rogers Farm to your Tuesday night agenda if you have gardening questions!  The Master Gardeners will be there and are happy to visit with you and offer advice.  Find directions here. The iris and peony display gardens will be in full color soon!

 
Photo by Lisa Colburn
Photo by Jonathan Foster
Photo by UMaine Cooperative Extension
2) Volcano Mulching

By Lisa Colburn


 

We're starting to see volcanoes in Maine!


 

It seems to be a yearly occurrence in many front yards. I'm talking about volcano mulching - piling large mounds of mulch around the trunks of trees and shrubs - a practice that slowly kills the very plants it was intended to help. It's TOO MUCH of a good thing!

Mulch is used to cover soil around plantings for a number of reasons: It assists in reducing evaporation; it stops sunlight from hitting the soil so fewer weed seeds germinate; as the mulch decomposes, it breaks down and provides organic matter to the soil...


 

Read more here.


 

3)  Garden Snapshots




        Photos by Jonathan Foster

4) Kale Chips

3 cups of kale (~10 large leaves)

2 tsp olive oil
1/8 tsp salt (optional)

  1. Preheat oven to 350� F
  2. Wash kale and spin dry in a salad spinner
  3. Remove kale leaves from center stalk and tear into bite- sized leaves
  4. Spread kale leaves out on baking sheet.
  5. Drizzle with olive oil
  6. Sprinkle with salt (optional)
  7. Bake for 15 minutes or until kale is crispy with edges slightly browned.
  8. Enjoy a scrumptious taste sensation


 

See full recipe and nutritional information here.

 


 

 

5) Featured Plant: Rosebay Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum)

Developed by Marjorie Peronto, associate Extension professor, University of Maine Cooperative Extension; and Reeser C. Manley, assistant professor of horticulture, University of Maine.

Tolerant of shade and demanding moist soil and cool temperatures, rosebay rhododendron can be found growing on cool mountain slopes, along stream banks, and in moist woods, sheltered coves, and cold northern swamps. It belongs in the shadier and wetter areas of your landscape, growing with striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum), eastern arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis), Canada hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), and witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana). Rhododendron maximum is intolerant of most landscape stresses, including salt, drought, heat, and soil compaction.

Read more here.



UMAINE EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

University of Maine Cooperative Extension in Piscataquis County will give away over 400 cherry tomato plants as part of the One Tomato Project to increase the number of people growing food.

 
The One Tomato Project, which originated in Ontario, Canada, encourages people to plant, grow and eat more vegetables, and to give any extra to food banks. The mission: "To grow healthier communities, one tomato at a time."

 
Tomato plants will be distributed at county food cupboards in Dover-Foxcroft, Guilford and Greenville in May and June; at the Black Fly Festival in Milo June 13; and at the UMaine Extension office at 165 East Main St. in Dover-Foxcroft the week of June 15

until gone. People will be asked to complete a short survey about their gardening experiences. Extension staff and Master Gardener Volunteers will provide information about container gardens and sign up those interested in receiving the Piscataquis & Penobscot Garden Newsletter. 

More information can be found here.  

 

 

University of Maine Cooperative Extension is hosting Savor the Season - A Food Preservation Weekend at Blueberry Cove Camp October 2 - 4, 2015. Cost is $325 for the weekend. FMI: http://umaine.edu/cumberland/ programs/savortheseason/ 



University of Maine Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at Rogers Farm has kicked off the 2015 season with several great work sessons!  Bring gardening questions, admire a huge variety of vegetable and ornamental plantings, or just stroll and visit with other gardeners from 5:30-6:30pm every Tuesday night.  The garden is located at 914 Bennoch Road in Old Town, and is open to the public during daylight hours. Contact Jonathan Foster at [email protected] or 942-7396 for more information, or to inquire about volunteering in the garden.    

 

 

 

The Maine 4-H Foundation is working on their very first online crowd fundraiser supporting the Tidewater Children's Garden and a manure spreader.  Check it out! It launched today!   

https://www.barnraiser.us/projects/maine-4-h-foundation-4-h-kids-garden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER LOCAL EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
 


Fields Pond Audubon in Holden is looking for an Outreach Intern

http://maineaudubon.org/blog/2014/11/ outreach-intern-fields-pond-audubon-center/ 

   

Wild Edibles Enjoy a walk in the woods to find edible wild food and learn about the habitat and structure of the plants. Saturday, June 13, 11-2. Leader: David Spahr, author of Edible
 and Medicinal Mushrooms of New England and Canada. Location: Fields Pond Audubon Center, Holden. Cost: $15/member $20/nonmember. Please register online at maineaudubon.org or call 989-2591. 
 

Gardener wanted at Ecotat Gardens:

Seasonal position for local land trust.
Some experience and knowledge of perennials/annuals helpful but not required. Should be able bodied with a willingness to learn. Wage based on experience.
Please mail resume to
Ecotat Gardens
PO Box 6233
Hermon, ME  04402-6233.
 
Orcharding 101 Workshop
Saturday, June 13, 2015 from 10AM - 2:30PM at Mossflower Farm in Sangerville. $15/person, $12 for MOFGA & MeHiMo members. Pre-registration is required. Please call 564-2321 ext. 3 or email [email protected]
 


 

 

  

  
CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

 

Maine Herb Society Monthly meetings in Bangor through most of the year. Visit their website or call Theresa for more information 942-7396.

 

Penobscot Beekeepers Association Monthly meetings through most of the year.  Visit their   Facebook page or contact Peter Cowin [email protected] for more details.

  

Maine Organic Famers and Gardeners Association Penobscot Chapter Potluck meetings the last Sunday of every month.  Contact Galen Young of Argyle Acres, 745-4797 or [email protected].

Brewer Garden & Bird Club
1pm, 3rd Wed. of the month at the Brewer Auditorium. Sept-June. Dec and June meetings are 2nd Wed. of the month. Contact Carol 989-1083 or visit www.mainegardenclubs.org/Brewer.html.
 
Dover-Foxcroft  Gardeners

Monthly meetings Feb.-Nov., the third Wednesday from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. at the Thompson Free Library, 186 E Main St, Dover-Foxcroft. For more information call: Dotty Hadler at (207) 564-7256

 

Orrington Garden Club
10am, 1st Wed. of the month Sept-June. Meetings are held at member homes.  Contact Barbara 989-3746 or [email protected].

Hampden Garden Club
Monthly meetings Feb.-Dec., fourth Tuesday.  Call Pat 862-3909 or Ellen 234-2945 for more information.

Veazie Garden Club
Meetings second Tues. Sept-June, 7pm Veazie Grade School.  Call 866-4564. 

 

Penquis Beekeepers

Meetings 7pm on second Tues. of the month at the Dexter VFW. 

 

Sebasticook Garden Club meets at 
1:30 on the 4th Thursday in March-October, the 2nd Thursday in November and the 2nd Friday in December.  Most meetings are held at the Newport Cultural Center located at 154 Main Street in Newport.  For information call Ann at 416-4807 

 

  

 

Events Calendars

MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association) 

Fields Pond Audubon Center 

Hirundo Wildlife Refuge 


Maine School Garden Network -

 
farmers' markets, CSAs, and other sources of locally produced food.
Mission

University of Maine Cooperative Extension is the major educational outreach program of the University of Maine with offices statewide.  UMaine Extension provides Maine people with research-based educational programs to help them live fuller, more productive lives.
Contributors

Jonathan Foster, Horticultural Aide 

Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
 
Kate Garland, Horticulturist

Theresa Tilton, Administrative Support Supervisor 

Erin Thomas, Master Gardener Volunteer
The University of Maine does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, including transgender status and gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director, Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, 207.581.1226.
Surface mail recipients can contact their county Extension office for further information when web links are included in an article.  
Penobscot Office 
307 Maine Ave. Bangor, ME  04401  207-942-7396 or 800-287-1485

Piscataquis Office 
165 East Main St. Dover-Foxcroft, ME  04426  207-564-3301 or 800-287-1491